In a major breakthrough against human traffickers, the administration rescued 115 youths from Bihar’s Sastipur district. In the name of work, these youths are exploited and kept there. Nine accused were arrested in the early night raid on Thursday.
Mission Mukti Foundation and the Armed Border Security Force (SSB) conducted the rescue operation under the auspices of the National Human Rights Commission. Among those rescued are 48 young women and 67 young men, many of whom are suspected to be minors.
Preliminary investigations revealed that smugglers targeted economically backward families in Assam. Especially youths are lured from Tamulpur district and surrounding border areas. They were promised government jobs in the agriculture department and were also charged money as job processing fee or application fee. But instead of being given jobs as promised, they were taken to Bihar and held in a fake call center. Tamulpur, Bhairavkund, AndThe youths from Dimkuchi, Vishwanath Chariali, Dumduma and Mangaldai in Dalguri district were forced to work under harsh conditions after coming to Samastipur.
Investigators revealed that the rescued individuals were kept under surveillance and strict restraints at all times. Many children were locked in their rooms at night and not allowed to go home. Those who questioned the work or wanted to return home were threatened, beaten and denied wages. In exchange for government jobs, they were forced into bogus network marketing and other exploitative jobs, which human rights activists described as modern-day slavery. Some women and minors are also feared to be sexually assaulted as they are secretly threatened through pictures and videos.
The incident came to light when a victim was able to inform the authorities through the Assam Center for Rural Development. A rescuer then infiltrates the gang posing as a customer and gathers secret information and the SSB rescues them after a well-planned operation. Human rights groups have warned that the incident reflects a larger human trafficking crisis across the region. Poverty, unemployment, lack of awareness and false promises of good jobs make the youth easy prey for these criminal gangs. The rescue has brought relief to hundreds of families, but activists say the youth will need rehabilitation, psychological counseling and long-term support in the coming days. The police and the administration are now intensifying their investigation to find other smugglers involved in the ring.